SkyDust 3D is a spatial synthesizer plugin that allows you to play a note and instantly get 3D audio in any immersive format. It’s great in stereo and great in 3D.
SkyDust 3D is very effective immersive audio processing software, and in their latest project, Sound Particles have applied this technology to a synthesizer that is apparently a world first. The synthesizer itself uses a set of eight multi-wavelength oscillators, which can either be layered for analog-style subtractive synthesis, or used individually as frequency modulation (FM) sources to modulate other oscillators. The oscillators are then fed into a mixer and each layer has its own filter, modulation and envelope settings.There are various options to further modify the oscillator waveforms, as well as the built-in effects, arpeggiators and sequencers. Sound Particles has organized the GUI using tabbed sections to make accessing all these features very easy.Unusually, the surround panning technology behind most existing Sound Particles plugins has been integrated into the synthesizer, so that the surround pan position becomes the modulation destination.In other words, panning can be controlled using all the usual modulation sources such as envelopes, LFOs and sequencers, as well as having access to a set of preset paths. Each of the oscillator sources fed into the mixer can have its own pan mode, so you end up with a multi-layered sound where each layer moves independently.The output format can be selected to suit your monitor system, from mono or stereo to a long list of nearly 30 discrete surround formats up to 13.1 (and Dolby Atmos compatible), binaural or Ambisonics, so there are options for creating sounds that work on headphones . as well as in surround sound systems.Apparently the synth uses ACN/SN3D (also known as AmbiX), so to use Ambisonics SkyDust 3D you just need to place it on a DAW track that supports it. There are several binaural format options to choose from, as well as additional options for each of these formats.There is a large selection of patch presets available, which can be browsed by category. There’s also a “Dice” button for random settings and a menu that allows you to lock certain aspects, such as pitch, timbre, or spatial settings, so they don’t change when you try different random settings. Presets for arpeggiator sequences and 3D movement are also available, so you don’t have to do deep editing until you’re ready.
• Support for MIDI MPE
• New Presets
• Performance Improvement
• Support for Mono Output
• GUI updates
• On the preset save info, Tab key allows to switch to the next text field
• Changing a parameter on a preset triggers a “*” on the preset name
• LFOs max rate is now 100 Hz
• On the Pitch Tab:
• – Pitch EG has knobs disabled for Random Behaviours: Detune ± 10 Cents; Detune ± 50 Cents; ± 2 octaves
• On the Sequencer Tab:
• – There is now “Clear Step” “Reset Notes” and “Clear Notes” options
• – Changes between note mode no longer resets the notes on the Keyboard
• – Delete button for Lane is now on the top part of the parameter label
• On the Matrix Tab:
• – PThe Filter Frequency behaviour is now Logarithmic – old presets keep a “Legacy” behaviour
• MIDI Indicator
• Virtual keyboard with pitch-bend, modulation wheel, and sustain pedal indicator
• Zoom UI (resizable Window)
• 40 EGs per voice: 8 gain EGs, 8 pitch EGs, 8 filter EGs, 8 spatial EGs, 8 extra EGs
• 40 LFOs per voice: 8 gain LFOs, 8 pitch LFOs, 8 filter LFOs, 8 spatial LFOs, 8 extra LFOs
• FM modulation (phase modulation) with 8 operators
• FM matrix, for custom FM connections
• 4 FM parameters per operator: ratio (or fixed frequency), detune, modulation gain, feedback
• A FM view to help visualize the current FM diagram
• Binaural: 5 HRTF datasets, with more than 100 HRTF profiles
• Support for SOFA files (personalized HRTFs)
• Supports Ambisonics up to 6th order (only SkyDust 3D)
• Support multichannel: LRC, LRCS, Quad, 4.0, 5.0, 5.1, 6.1, 7.0, 7.1, 9.0, 9.1, 5.0.2, 5.1.2, 5.0.4, 5.1.4, 7.0.2, 7.1.2, 7.1.4, 7.0.6, 7.1.6, 9.1.2, 9.1.4, 9.1.6, 9.0.8, 9.1.8, 11.1.8, Auro 11.1, Auro 13.1, IMAX 12.0, 22.2
• Support for stereo: stereo, stereo (VBAP), stereo (MS) (…)
• Support for binaural (3D sound over Headphones) – 2 XY pads, with custom parameters per axis
• Snap feature, with snap time, on XY pads
• FX: Delay, Reverb, Bit-Crusher, Distortion, EQ (3 bands), Parametric EQ (1 band)
• FX presets and sub-presets
• Dry/Wet control
• Meters in-between FX slots
• LFOs with depth, rate, phase, delay
• Ability to sync LFOs with host (tempo)
• Global LFOs (all LFOs in sync with each other)
• 11 Movement modifiers: Random rotation, Oscillate, Floating, Random Target, Rotation, Moving Up, Moving To Position, Moving Left, Moving Front, Moving Rear, Moving Right
• EG with multiple types: AR, ADR, ADSR, AHDSR, DAHDSR
• Global octave, transpose, detune
• 4 macros, with support for multiple parameters, and custom curves
• Multiple 3D views: 360 view, rear view, top view, spherical view, SkyDust view
• Main volume and main meters
• Mixer panel, with independent control of oscillators (volume, mute, solo, meter), 4 FX dry-wet and main volume (and mute)
• Optional monophonic behavior, with “Mono” or “Legato” mode, and variable glide time
• Curve editor, with multiple point editor and curve adjustment, or using knobs (depth, min, mid, max)
• Ability to filter matrix entries by source or destination
• Matrix sub-presets
• 8 extra EGs and 8 LFOs, able to control multiple parameters and associated curve editor
• Extra EGs/LFOs sub-preset
• Arpeggiator with 7 patterns, and ability to add additional octaves (from -2 to + 2)
• Ability to sync Arpeggiator with host (tempo)
• Modern Sequencer with up to 128 steps and multiple parameters
• Keyboard editor per sequencer step, for easy note entry
• Polyphonic sequencer (support of multiple notes per sequencer step)
• 3D panning per sequencer step
• Ability to add any parameter to sequencer, with step values
• Intelligent sequencer, with ability to adapt to major/minor sequences, by forcing a scale
• Initial 3D position by oscillator
• Variable Oscillator divergence, to obtain slightly random positions on each note
• Global spatial settings or independent spatial settings by oscillator
• 3D position Envelope Generator, to define multiple positions through time
• 3D LFO, with independent depth for azimuth and elevation
• Dedicated pitch EG and LFO per oscillator, for maximum flexibility
• Random pitch values for interesting pitch effects, such as pitch convergence/divergence
• Keyboard and MIDI Velocity mapping on filters
• Random presets, with the ability to lock certain sub-modules
• MIDI Learn control or manual assignment to attach a control to a parameter
• Ability to filter presets by bank (factory/user), artist, and type (pads,…)
• Tooltips (on bottom bar) activated by mouse over parameters
Release Notes – version 1.5.0
Overview
In this new version, SkyDust 1.5.0 allows you to import your own audio files into the synthesizer, among many other new features, enhancing the capabilities of this virtual instrument to even greater heights. Here are some of the exciting features and enhancements of this new version:
Ability to Import Samples: SkyDust users will now have the capability to import samples, opening up endless creative sound possibilities when combined with SkyDust’s spatial audio engine.
More Oscillator Waveforms: An expanded list of +100 oscillator waveforms provides users with an even broader palette of audio possibilities.
More Waveform Modifiers: Dive deeper into sound sculpting with additional waveform modifiers, offering enhanced control and manipulation.
Additional Effects: Elevate your sound design with a wider array of effects, further refining your spatial audio creations.
Workflow & EGs Improvements: SkyDust v1.5 introduces workflow enhancements such as the ability to search, filter and sort presets, program change control to switch between presets easily, and new EG curve types to shape your sounds exactly how you want.
New Features
On the Oscillators Tab:
– Added the ability to Import Audio Files (Samples)
LFO can now control both Gain and Modifier of the oscillator
On the Effects Tab:
– Added new Effects: Chorus, Flanger, Phaser and Vibrato
– Added new Delay parameters: Sync and Mirror
– Added new Reverb parameters: Pre Delay
On the Main Tab:
– Preset MIDI Learn
– Added new submenu options to the Filter
– Added alphabetical Sort options
– Added Search textfield
On the Frequency Modulation Tab:
– Added new Modulation Types: AM and Ring Modulation
On the Arpeggiator Tab:
– Added Note Velocity to the available Sequencer parameters
Improvements
On the Oscillators Tab:
– Added new waveforms for the oscillators
New waveform modifiers for oscillators and LFOs
On the Spatial Tab:
– Added Speakers representation for each output format
– Snap to Speakers using a modifier (Shift)
Selected oscillator will be the same when navigating through different pages
Higher quality Binaural output
Copy paste now allows to chose if you want to copy all the parameters or only the EG/only the LFO
RR and ADDSR added to the EG types
EG now allows to chose how the curve behaves: Linear, Exponential, Logarithm, Fader, S-Curve
Improved UI of the FM Page
Ration knob can now work with steps when using a modifier (Mac – command; Windows – control)
On the Effects Tab:
Delay Time can now go to 0 ms
New Settings Panel
Bug Fixes
On the Oscillators Tab:
– Fixed the visual glitch of the first time an oscillator was opened
On the Spatial Tab:
– You are now able to control the Speed of the Movement Modifier “Floating”
On the Matrix Tab:
– When selecting a source that is not compatible with a destination, now the destination resets to “none”
MPE no longer create clicks when controlling Elevation Offset
Automation parameters now added to the following audio formats on Pro Tools:
– 7.0.2
– 7.1.2
– 1st Order Ambisonics
– 2nd Order Ambisonics
– 3rd Order Ambisonics
Do you have Tone2 Warlock or Parawave Rapid?